How to Break a Marble

Marbles are surprisingly tough but you can break one with some preparation.

Marbles are deceptively tough, as anyone who has ever tried to break one has found out. They are usually able to survive being thrown and dropped due to their light weight, and their spherical shape makes it tricky to get in a good whack with a hammer. The trick is to stop them from moving around so much and to avoid the flying shards of glass that could result if you succeed.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy plastic bag
• Cloth bag or thick sock
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Place the marble in a thick plastic bag. A heavy-duty freezer storage bag is all right; thick vinyl is better.

2. Place the plastic bag into a cloth bag or thick sock. This extra layer will keep your marble fragments together in case the plastic bag tears.

3. Place the bag on a flat, hard surface such as pavement or stone.

4. Hit the marble firmly with a hammer. Repeat as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• It can be easier to break one or two marbles if you place several in the bag. The bag will stop them from moving around so much and increase your odds of solidly hitting one.

• Never attempt to break a marble outside a sturdy bag. Flying glass chips can cut skin and severely damage eyes.